Barnet Council cuts all ArtsDepot funding
6 December 2010

In a shock move Barnet Council announced on Friday 3rd December that it is to cut its £194,000 core funding of artsdepot, the only professional arts venue in the London borough within 3 months, leaving it vulnerable to closure. At an already difficult time, this leaves the future of artsdepot in a precarious position and although the funding represents only 11% of the venue's overall turnover, the lack of notice - typically arts organisations are forewarned a year in advance - may mean significant job losses in the arts for the area. Opened in 2004, the artsdepot is a flagship arts venue located at Tally Ho Corner in Finchley, North London. In a year more than 110,000 people come through artsdepot's doors; it is well used by the local population and touring companies and serves the multi-ethnic local population extremely well.

artsdepot is the only professional arts venue in the London borough of Barnet, and provides a wide variety of theatre, children's shows, comedy, dance, visual arts and music for the local community, as well as a diverse range of courses, classes and education and outreach programmes. The venue has been recognised by the Mayor of London as a beacon of excellence, and by Arts Council England as a vitally important part of the capital's cultural provision. The education and outreach departments worked with groups including young people with disabilities, refugees, young offenders, people with dementia and those excluded from mainstream education.

At the artsdepot, every year:

• 9000 people take part in education projects
• 5000 people join 130 courses
• 4500 pupils from 32 schools in the borough use the facilites and are supported by its programmes
• 1200 local children use the free soft play
• 80 young people are offered real employment opportunities

The director of artsdepot, Nigel Cutting, said, 'I am shocked and disappointed at this proposal as I have been in constant dialogue with Barnet Council for the last six months, and at no time had it been suggested to us that funding would be withdrawn in 2011. Whilst we recognise that in times of reduced public expenditure, arts provision will need to take a share of the cuts, this is hugely disproportionate and short-sighted, especially with artsdepot being only 6 years old, and being a council initiative. If it goes through, Barnet will be one of the largest councils in the country to spend nothing on the arts. A local authority area with twice the population of Oxford at least deserves a degree of arts provision. We are all aware that central government is reducing what it spends on the arts, but isn't cutting it altogether. Neither should Barnet Council.'

In the past financial year, artsdepot received £194,000 from Barnet Borough Council, amounting to 11% of its overall turnover. Comparable arts venues in six other London boroughs received local authority support amounting to between £226,000 and £650,000, which made up between 18% and 68% of their overall turnover. artsdepot has always strived not to be dependent on one core funder, earning around half of its income itself through, amongst other things, box office sales and hires. Around a further 25% of funding comes from private trusts and foundations who value its work. However, the late notice of this announcement makes it incredibly difficult for the venue to plan for the consequences of the proposed cuts.

In a statement, Cllr Robert Rams, cabinet member for Customer Access and Partnerships, said: “Sadly these are times of extreme financial pressures for the council and we have to make tough decisions. “We have to bear in mind that Barnet remains part of one of the world’s great cultural capitals and we’re fortunate to have a rich variety of arts provision, much of it free, just half an hour or so away on the tube.

“It had always been the plan for artsdepot to become self funding but at a difficult time financially we have had to take a decision on our future commitments. We will obviously continue talks about funding with the artsdepot and we will do all we can to assist them in reaching the levels of funding they need.I will be meeting representatives from the Arts Council soon to talk over what future arrangements can be made.”

Save artsdepot - here's what you can do.

artsdepot are urging anyone concerned about this decision to sign the online petition and to write to local councillors outlining their concerns.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you want to help save artsdepot, here's what you can do:

1. Sign the 'Save artsdepot' petition, click here.

2. Email your Local Councillor - click here to find out who this is.

3. Write to your local MP - click here to find out who this is.

4. Write to the Department of Culture Media & Sports (DCMS)

5. If you live in London, write to the Mayor of London.